Spread Offense

When Matt Kitchie was the offensive coordinator at Bradenton (Fla.) Southeast High School, he fell in love with the spread offense. Kitchie, now the new wide receivers coach at Eastern Kentucky University, was on hand here Thursday to tell area high school coaches about that offense during the first morning session at the Kentucky Football Coaches Association's annual clinic at Centre College. But offense wasn't the only item on the agenda Thursday morning. Former Boyle County coach Chuck Smith was on hand to discuss linebacker play and show some film of proper techniques from the University of Kentucky's spring practice, where Smith is the linebackers coach.

It's no secret that East Jessamine has had its struggles on the gridiron. But after finding intermittent success with a new offensive package late last season, head coach Mike Bowlin has his Jaguars acquiring a new look this spring. Traditionally a power running team, Bowlin said he is having his team work making the transition to a spread offense during the 15-day spring practice period. “We've gone to the spread,” Bowlin said. “We finished last season in shotgun trying to run more of a zone-read kind of thing; people may be familiar with what, you know, (Robert Griffin)

Boyle County coach Larry French called his defense's performance in last week's loss to Highlands “one of the worst defensive games since I've been here.” “We didn't play good defense the entire game, and that was one of our weaknesses big time,” French said. “We didn't tackle very well. We had people there, we didn't tackle well, and that was very disappointing. “We didn't stop the run well at all (allowing 354 yards) and that's something we've been good at in the past.

On paper, the game looks like a mismatch. Boyle County is coming off a 42-22 win over Rockcastle County and also has demolished Johnson Central this season. Pikeville is coming off a 32-14 defeat to Covington Holy Cross in its own Pike County Bowl. Yet Boyle coach Larry French says Saturday's game in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic at Corbin could present his Rebels, the top-ranked team in Class AAAA, with some new problems. "Offensively, they are pretty decent. They line up in a spread offense that we have not yet seen this year and throw the football nine out of 10 times," French said.

Boyle County had to deal with the bruising, power football of Bell County to get the Class AAAA finals. Now the Rebels have to slow down the pass-happy, high-scoring Lone Oak offense to take home the school's sixth state title ? and first since 2003 ? on Friday in Bowling Green. "It's definitely a different type of play. But you've got to be able to adjust to every team that you play to be a true champion," Boyle coach Larry French said. "You've got to be able to defeat teams like that.

If the Lincoln County Patriots are going to do what they have made a habit of doing this time of year, they had better get on with it. Coach Mike Settles said the Patriots have been a better team at the end of the season than at the beginning in each of his four seasons at Lincoln, but that isn't necessarily the case this season - at least not yet. Lincoln won three of its first four games but brings a three-game losing streak into its game Friday...

STANFORD ? Lincoln County was held to minus-50 yards rushing in last week's loss to Rockcastle County, so coach Mike Settles knows his team has to get better up front fast, especially with district play beginning in two weeks. He's hoping his team can show improvement at home this Friday against winless Washington County (0-3). "We got beat up front pretty bad. Our linemen will be looking to redeem themselves Friday," Settles said. The Patriots might get that chance against a Washington defense that is giving up 35 points a game, including 87 in its last two losses to Western Hills and Taylor County.

The Centre College quarterback position is still an open battle, but for the moment the job still belongs to Jarrod Williams. Coach Andy Frye said the senior will start over sophomore Grant Conliffe on Saturday when Centre hosts conference foe Sewanee. "His experience and knowing the offense is the big thing," Frye said of Williams. Williams was 10 of 12 passing for 67 yards and a touchdown last week, and, more importantly, did not throw an interception in the 21-14 win over Austin College.

Mercer County can secure its playoff future by winning at South Laurel on Friday. But the Titans will face a Cardinals team fighting for its playoff life. "I'm sure that's what they're talking about. South Laurel has got to beat us to get into the playoffs," Mercer coach Marty Jaggers said. "If they beat us, they're in with a tiebreaker. I know they're going to be fired up, and we talked about that. " The Cardinals are 3-4 overall, and 0-3 in Class AAAAA, District 7. Southwestern is 1-3 in district play so a loss by Mercer (4-4, 1-2)

Centre College quarterback Grant Conliffe said the Colonels were "predictable" on offense last season. But he doesn't expect anything close to predictable this season under new offensive coordinator Tony Joe White and his spread offense. "There's a lot of stuff to it, and there's just a lot of positions and mismatches we can take advantage of," said Conliffe, a junior who threw for 839 yards and five touchdowns while splitting time with Jarrod Williams in 2007. "It's tough to learn at first.

It's no secret that East Jessamine has had its struggles on the gridiron. But after finding intermittent success with a new offensive package late last season, head coach Mike Bowlin has his Jaguars acquiring a new look this spring. Traditionally a power running team, Bowlin said he is having his team work making the transition to a spread offense during the 15-day spring practice period. “We've gone to the spread,” Bowlin said. “We finished last season in shotgun trying to run more of a zone-read kind of thing; people may be familiar with what, you know, (Robert Griffin)

Kentucky got commitments from two players with the playmaking ability that offensive coordinator Neal Brown wants in his offense in a 30-minute period Friday night when wide receiver Jeff Badet and running back JoJo Kemp, both of Florida, both verbally committed to the Wildcats. The two players are expected to sign with Kentucky on Wednesday during the first day of the national signing period. Both were expected to pick UK over a host of other schools, but Kemp said he wasn't convinced what he would do until Brown and running backs coach Chad Scott visited him Thursday after coaches from West Virginia, South Florida and Pittsburgh had stopped by in the previous 24 hours.

If the Lincoln County Patriots are going to do what they have made a habit of doing this time of year, they had better get on with it. Coach Mike Settles said the Patriots have been a better team at the end of the season than at the beginning in each of his four seasons at Lincoln, but that isn't necessarily the case this season - at least not yet. Lincoln won three of its first four games but brings a three-game losing streak into its game Friday...

Garrard County could be without its senior quarterback Friday when the Golden Lions host Lloyd Memorial. Billy Abney, who went out with a knee injury late in Saturday's loss to Anderson¿County, is listed as day-to-day, and Garrard coach Mark Scenters is not sure to what extent Abney's knee is hurt. “We will see what the doctor says as the week progresses,”¿Scenters said. “The doctors at Danville Orthopaedics provide outstanding care to many of our student-athletes and we trust them and know they are looking out for the good of our young people.

Boyle County coach Larry French called his defense's performance in last week's loss to Highlands “one of the worst defensive games since I've been here.” “We didn't play good defense the entire game, and that was one of our weaknesses big time,” French said. “We didn't tackle very well. We had people there, we didn't tackle well, and that was very disappointing. “We didn't stop the run well at all (allowing 354 yards) and that's something we've been good at in the past.

Boyle County had to deal with the bruising, power football of Bell County to get the Class AAAA finals. Now the Rebels have to slow down the pass-happy, high-scoring Lone Oak offense to take home the school's sixth state title ? and first since 2003 ? on Friday in Bowling Green. "It's definitely a different type of play. But you've got to be able to adjust to every team that you play to be a true champion," Boyle coach Larry French said. "You've got to be able to defeat teams like that.

STANFORD ? Lincoln County was held to minus-50 yards rushing in last week's loss to Rockcastle County, so coach Mike Settles knows his team has to get better up front fast, especially with district play beginning in two weeks. He's hoping his team can show improvement at home this Friday against winless Washington County (0-3). "We got beat up front pretty bad. Our linemen will be looking to redeem themselves Friday," Settles said. The Patriots might get that chance against a Washington defense that is giving up 35 points a game, including 87 in its last two losses to Western Hills and Taylor County.

This is unfamiliar territory for Danville, but it's not desperation time for coach Sam Harp or his players. Danville is 1-2 after its 31-14 loss Saturday at Corbin. It's the first time Danville has had a losing record after three games since 1999, when it started 1-3 and finished 7-6, Harp's worst record at Danville. The only other time Harp has had a losing record after three games at Danville came in 1988, his first year, when the Admirals opened 1-2 and finished 8-5. Yet Harp wants no part of believing that Friday's game at unbeaten Somerset could define his team's season since the Admirals still have to play Class AAAAA Southwestern and unbeaten Boyle County, the No. 1 team in AAAA, in the following two weeks.

Centre College coach Andy Frye said his team is "right on track" and ready for the Colonels' season opener Saturday at Hanover. "I think we're still working out some preseason jitters, but we're tightening things up on offense and defense and special teams," Frye said. "I thought Mount St. Joseph was a good scrimmage for us (last week). I thought we competed well with them, and I thought it was a good preseason look at what we still need to do. " Centre was 7-3 overall and tied for second in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference at 5-2 last year, and Frye is optimistic for a better 2009.

On paper, the game looks like a mismatch. Boyle County is coming off a 42-22 win over Rockcastle County and also has demolished Johnson Central this season. Pikeville is coming off a 32-14 defeat to Covington Holy Cross in its own Pike County Bowl. Yet Boyle coach Larry French says Saturday's game in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic at Corbin could present his Rebels, the top-ranked team in Class AAAA, with some new problems. "Offensively, they are pretty decent. They line up in a spread offense that we have not yet seen this year and throw the football nine out of 10 times," French said.